Resistance System for a Rowing Machine

ABSTRACT

A resistance system for a rowing machine has a mounting bracket, and a housing assembly, a driving assembly and a restoring assembly mounted on the mounting bracket. The housing assembly is for storing liquid and a paddle wheel. The driving assembly is connected to the paddle wheel and drives the paddle wheel to rotate in a direction only. The restoring assembly is connected to a strip hub of the driving assembly and is able to drive the strip hub to rotate in a reverse direction. The resistance system for the rowing machine has simplified structure. Therefore, it is easy to assemble to resistance system, and manufacturing cost of the resistance system can be decreased. In addition, a service life of the resistance system as well as the rowing machine can be increased.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an exercise equipment, especially to aresistance system for a rowing machine.

2. Description of the Prior Art(s)

Rowing is an interesting and challenging sport that exercises all themajor muscle groups, including quadriceps femoris, biceps, triceps,latissimus dorsi, gluteal, and abdominal muscles. A rowing machine is anexercise equipment that is used to simulate action of the rowing for thepurpose of exercise and training the muscles groups.

A conventional resistance system for a rowing machine includes amagnetic brake and an elastic rope. The elastic rope is connected to themagnetic brake and is able to resume its original shape after beingstretched. An exerciser pulls the elastic rope repeatedly and resistsresistance forces formed by the magnetic brake and elasticity of theelastic rope, so as to achieve exercise and training effects.

However, a structure of the magnetic brake is complex and needs highmanufacturing cost. Moreover, after being stretched repeatedly, elasticfatigue occurs in the elastic rope. Consequently, the exercise andtraining effects of the rowing machine having the conventionalresistance system are greatly influenced.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides aresistance system for a rowing machine to mitigate or obviate theaforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a resistancesystem for a rowing machine. The resistance system has a mountingbracket, a housing assembly, a paddle wheel, a driving assembly, and arestoring assembly.

The housing assembly is mounted on the mounted bracket and includes aliquid tank. The liquid tank is for storing liquid and has two oppositeside walls.

The paddle wheel is mounted in the liquid tank and has a rotating base,multiple peddle blades, and a driven shaft. The paddle blades is formedon and is arranged around the rotating base at intervals. The drivenshaft protrudes from a center of the rotating base and is rotatablymounted through one of the side walls of the liquid tank.

The driving assembly is mounted on the driven shaft and includes a striphub, at least one one-way bearing, a driving strip, and a handle. Thestrip hub is mounted around the driven shaft and has a connecting axleprotruding from an end surface of the strip hub and being coaxial withthe driven shaft. The at least one one-way bearing is mounted betweenand is connected to the driven shaft and the strip hub. The drivingstrip is wound around the strip hub. The handle is connected with thedriving strip.

The restoring assembly is mounted around the connecting axle of thestrip hub and includes a casing and a restoring element. The casing issecurely connected to the mounting bracket and is mounted around theconnecting axle. The restoring element is resilient, is mounted in thecasing, and has two ends respectively connected to the casing and theconnecting axle.

When the driving strip is pulled to drive the strip hub to unwind thedriving strip, the strip hub drives the paddle wheel to rotate, and aresilient restoring force of the restoring element is formed and pullsthe connecting axle of the strip hub to rotate in a reverse direction.

When the driving strip is released, the resilient restoring force of therestoring element drives the strip hub to wind the driving strip, andthe strip hub is free from driving the paddle wheel to rotate.

The resistance system for the rowing machine has simplified structure.Therefore, it is easy to assemble to resistance system, andmanufacturing cost of the resistance system can be decreased. Inaddition, a service life of the resistance system as well as the rowingmachine can be increased.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an operational perspective view of a resistance system for arowing machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the resistance system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the resistance system in FIG. 1,with a mounting bracket shown omitted;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the resistance system in FIG.1, with the mounted bracket shown omitted;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a housing assembly and apaddle wheel of the resistance system in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a driving assembly and arestoring assembly of the resistance system in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a resistance system AA for a rowingmachine comprises a mounting bracket 10, a housing assembly 20, a paddlewheel 30, at least one strip guiding member 40A, 40B, a driving assembly50, and a restoring assembly 60.

The mounting bracket 10 is connected to a front end of a seat assembly70 of the rowing machine.

With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, the housing assembly 20 ismounted on the mounted bracket 10 and includes a liquid tank 21 and twobaffles 22.

The liquid tank 21 is for storing liquid such as water, and has two sidewalls 211 and an annular wall 212. The side walls 211 are oppositelydefined on the liquid tank 21. The annular wall 212 is formed betweenthe two side walls 211.

The baffles 22 are disposed in the liquid tank 21 and are attached tothe two side walls 211 of the liquid tank 21 respectively. Each of thebaffles 22 is annular and has a through hole 221 defined through thebaffle 22. An interior of the liquid tank 21 is divided into an innercompartment 201 surrounded by the baffles 22 and an outer compartment202 formed between the annular wall 212 of the liquid tank 21 and thebaffles 22. The inner compartment 201 and the outer compartment 202 inthe liquid tank 21 communicates with each other via the through holes221 of the baffles 22.

In the preferred embodiment, the liquid tank 21 is formed by attachingtwo half-housings 210 in a watertight manner. The through hole 221 ofone of the baffles 22 corresponds in position to the through hole 221 ofthe other baffle 22.

With further reference to FIG. 4, the paddle wheel 30 is mounted in theliquid tank 21 and has a rotating base 31, multiple paddle blades 32,and a driven shaft 33. The rotating base 31 is substantially formed as acircular plate and is rotatably disposed between the baffles 22. Thepaddle blades 32 are formed on and arranged around the rotating base 31at intervals, are disposed in the outer compartment 202 of the liquidtank 21, and alternately protrude toward the two side walls 211. Thedriven shaft 33 protrudes from a center of the rotating base 31, isrotatably mounted through one of the side walls 211 of the liquid tank21, and has an outer end protruding out of the liquid tank 21.

Preferably, the liquid tank 21 is connected to the driven shaft 33 viaat least one bearing 34, such that the driven shaft 33 is able to rotatesmoothly and stably relative to the liquid tank 21. Preferably, at leastone sealing member 34 is mounted between the liquid tank 21 and thedriven shaft 33, so as to avoid leakage of the liquid in the liquid tank21.

The at least one strip guiding member 40A, 40B is mounted on themounting bracket 10. In the preferred embodiment, each of the at leastone strip guiding member 40A, 40B is cylindrical.

With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, the driving assembly 50 ismounted on the outer end of the driven shaft 33 and includes a strip hub51, at least one one-way bearing 52, a driving strip 53, and a handle54.

The strip hub 51 is mounted around the outer end of the driven shaft 33and has an annular recess 511 and a connecting axle 512. The annularrecess 511 is formed in and around an annular side surface of the striphub 51. The connecting axle 512 protrudes from an end surface of thestrip hub 51 and is coaxial with the driven shaft 33. The at least oneone-way bearing 52 is mounted between and is connected to the drivenshaft 33 and the strip hub 51.

The driving strip 53 is wound around the strip hub 51 in the annularrecess 511, abuts against and is oriented by the at least one stripguiding member 40A, 40B, and has an inner connecting end and an outerpulling end 531. The inner connecting end of the driving strip 53 isconnected with the strip hub 51. The outer pulling end 531 of thedriving strip 53 extends toward the seat assembly 70. The handle 54 isconnected with the outer pulling end 531 of the driving strip 53.

With the at least one one-way bearing 52 disposed between the drivenshaft 33 and the strip hub 51, when the strip hub 51 is driven to rotateto unwind the driving strip 53, the strip hub 51 drives the driven shaft33, i.e. the paddle wheel 30, to rotate; when the strip hub 51 is drivento rotate to wind the driving strip 53, the strip hub 51 is free fromdriving the driven shaft 33, i.e. the paddle wheel 30, to rotate.

The restoring assembly 60 is mounted around the connecting axle 512 ofthe strip hub 51 and includes a casing 61 and a restoring element 62.The casing 61 is securely connected to the mounting bracket 10 and ismounted around the connecting axle 512, such that the connecting axle512 protrudes into the casing 61. The restoring element 62 is resilient,is mounted in the casing 61, and has two ends respectively connected tothe casing 61 and the connecting axle 512.

Preferably, the casing 61 is connected to the connecting axle 512 via atleast one bearing 63. Preferably, the restoring element 62 is a volutespring that is wound around the connecting axle 512 of the strip hub 51.

When using the rowing machine, a user sits on the seat assembly 70,faces toward the resistance system AA and holds the handle 54 of thedriving assembly 50.

As the user pulls the driving strip 53 to unwind the driving strip 53,the strip hub 51 and the paddle wheel 30 is driven to rotate. Meanwhile,a resilient restoring force of the restoring element 62 is formed andpulls the connecting axle 512 of the strip hub 51 to rotate in a reversedirection. Turbulence in the liquid provides fluid resistance torotation of the wheel paddle 30. Moreover, with the baffles 22 and thethrough holes 221 of the baffles 22, the liquid pushed by the paddleblades 32 of the paddle wheel 30 flows in the outer compartment 202 andthe inner compartment 201 in the liquid tank 21. Accordingly, a currentin the liquid tank 21 is more turbulent and the fluid resistanceprovided to the wheel paddle 30 is greater a current that is formed by aliquid flow flowing annularly along the liquid tank 21.

As the user releases the driving strip 53, the restoring element 62drives the strip hub 51 to rotate reversely to wind the driving strip53. With the at least one one-way bearing 52 disposed between the drivenshaft 33 and the strip hub 51, the strip hub 51 is free from driving thepaddle wheel to rotate. Thus, the fluid resistance does not hinderrotation of the strip hub 51.

The resistance system AA for the rowing machine as described hassimplified structure. Therefore, it is easy to assemble to resistancesystem AA, and manufacturing cost of the resistance system AA can bedecreased. In addition, a service life of the resistance system AA aswell as the rowing machine can be increased.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing description, togetherwith details of the structure and features of the invention, thedisclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details,especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts withinthe principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by thebroad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims areexpressed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A resistance system for a rowing machinecomprising: a mounting bracket; a housing assembly mounted on themounted bracket and including a liquid tank, and the liquid tank beingfor storing liquid and having two opposite side walls; a paddle wheelmounted in the liquid tank and having a rotating base; multiple paddleblades formed on and arranged around the rotating base at intervals; anda driven shaft protruding from a center of the rotating base, rotatablymounted through one of the side walls of the liquid tank, and having anouter end protruding out of the liquid tank; a driving assembly mountedon the outer end of the driven shaft and including a strip hub mountedaround the outer end of the driven shaft and having a connecting axle,and the connecting axle protruding from an end surface of the strip huband being coaxial with the driven shaft; at least one one-way bearingmounted between and connected to the driven shaft and the strip hub; adriving strip wound around the strip hub and having an inner connectingend connected with the strip hub; and an outer pulling end; and a handleconnected with the outer pulling end of the driving strip; and arestoring assembly mounted around the connecting axle of the strip huband including a casing securely connected to the mounting bracket andmounted around the connecting axle; and a restoring element beingresilient, mounted in the casing, and having two ends respectivelyconnected to the casing and the connecting axle; wherein when thedriving strip is pulled to drive the strip hub to unwind the drivingstrip, the strip hub drives the paddle wheel to rotate, and a resilientrestoring force of the restoring element is formed and pulls theconnecting axle of the strip hub to rotate in a reverse direction; andwhen the driving strip is released, the resilient restoring force of therestoring element drives the strip hub to wind the driving strip, andthe strip hub is free from driving the paddle wheel to rotate.
 2. Theresistance system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid tank has anannular wall formed between the two side walls of the liquid tank; thehousing assembly further includes two baffles disposed in the liquidtank and attached to the two opposite side walls of the liquid tankrespectively, and each of the baffles is annular and has a through holedefined through the baffle; an interior of the liquid tank is dividedinto an inner compartment surrounded by the baffles and an outercompartment formed between the annular wall of the liquid tank and thebaffles; the rotating base of the paddle wheel is rotatably disposedbetween the baffles; and the paddle blades of the paddle wheel aredisposed in the outer compartment of the liquid tank and alternatelyprotrude toward the two side walls.
 3. The resistance system as claimedin claim 1, wherein the resistance system further comprises at least onestrip guiding member mounted on the mounting bracket; and the drivingstrip abuts against and is oriented by the at least one strip guidingmember.
 4. The resistance system as claimed in claim 2, wherein theresistance system further comprises at least one strip guiding membermounted on the mounting bracket; and the driving strip abuts against andis oriented by the at least one strip guiding member.
 5. The resistancesystem as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strip hub further has anannular recess formed in and around an annular side surface of the striphub; and the driving strip is wound around the strip hub in the annularrecess.
 6. The resistance system as claimed in claim 2, wherein thestrip hub further has an annular recess formed in and around an annularside surface of the strip hub; and the driving strip is wound around thestrip hub in the annular recess.
 7. The resistance system as claimed inclaim 3, wherein the strip hub further has an annular recess formed inand around an annular side surface of the strip hub; and the drivingstrip is wound around the strip hub in the annular recess.
 8. Theresistance system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the strip hub furtherhas an annular recess formed in and around an annular side surface ofthe strip hub; and the driving strip is wound around the strip hub inthe annular recess.
 9. The resistance system as claimed in claim 5,wherein the liquid tank is connected to the driven shaft of the paddlewheel via at least one bearing; and the casing of the restoring assemblyis connected to the connecting axle of the strip hub via at least onebearing.
 10. The resistance system as claimed in claim 8, wherein theliquid tank is connected to the driven shaft of the paddle wheel via atleast one bearing; and the casing of the restoring assembly is connectedto the connecting axle of the strip hub via at least one bearing. 11.The resistance system as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least onesealing member is mounted between the liquid tank and the driven shaft.12. The resistance system as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least onesealing member is mounted between the liquid tank and the driven shaft.